Cmentarz Ewangelicki w Rypinie

Like any such place, this cemetery also invites to the occasional walk and reflection. Rypin was once a provincial, multicultural and multi-ethnic center with a history dating back to the 11th century. Apart from Catholics, Jews and Orthodox Christians, Evangelicals, to some extent also from the German minority, had their religious background. They had their community, their church and, of course, their graveyard. Catholics and Orthodox Christians buried together, while the rest had separate necropolises. Even though I am a native Rypinia, my knowledge is limited and to people who want reliable information, I recommend visiting the local pastor, because the Evangelicals are still a living substance in the town. Memories of the cemetery go back to childhood, when it was there that the paths of truancy, i.e. escapes from school, led. The necropolis was always neat and tidy, although I have never seen anyone there to care for it. My attitude, like that of other peers, was marked by curiosity towards the "German" relic about which there are stories that stimulate the imagination. They concerned mysterious tombs where military personnel and the most distinguished members of the community were buried. For this reason, they were the subject of interest of robbers penetrating the graves in search of, among others, valuables or other items of material value. In fact, there were cases of desecration of burials, and the then police initiated rather ineffective investigations into these cases. Today it is a quiet cemetery, nostalgically located on a richly wooded hill. Inside the fence you will find many interesting sepulchral names and surnames, although the latter may only mean something to the townspeople, especially the older part of the population. Noteworthy is the monument dedicated to the Evangelicals who died during the world wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. Undoubtedly, these were both civilian casualties and fallen soldiers of the German army. Fortunately, the monument itself, as well as the dead, do not disturb anyone, and their peace seems intact.

27 German army soldiers who died during World War I rest at the cemetery.